About

About Me and Hungry Desi

Hi and welcome to Hungry Desi. Hungry Desi is written by me, Nithya. I’m the General Counsel at AppNexus in New York. Briefly: When I’m not lawyering, I love to cook. I love to eat. And I love sharing stories about what I cook and eat with others.

I live in Brooklyn, New York Hoboken, New Jersey with my husband my husband and our daughter. My husband and I are both lifelong vegetarians who grew up in the U.S. with Indian parents. So our palettes and my cooking are largely influenced by Indian spices and flavors.

In my effort to be brief, I won’t take up time telling you how our vacations center around eating, that cooking after a hectic day is my way of relaxing, that grocery shopping is an exercise in curious excitement for me, that I plan dinner before breakfast or that I can spend endless time researching new restaurants and ingredients.

What’s Hungry Desi mean? And how do I pronounce Desi?

Hungry – characteristic of an appetite

Desi (pronounced like “they+see”) – a South Asian

Hungry Desi – South Asian with an appetite for traditional Indian food and spicy vegetarian dishes

How can you reach me?Feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email at nithyadas1 (at) gmail (dot) com with questions and suggestions. And as always, I welcome and appreciate your feedback! You can also follow me at www.twitter.com/nithyadas.

Comment Policy: I love reading your comments and feedback on posts. If you try out a recipe, please let me know how it turns out. Trust me, I’m elated to hear from you! And if you have a question, feel free to ask it. I try my hardest to respond to all questions and suggestions in the comments. If you’re question seems urgent, I’ll try to respond by email as well. Lastly, if your comment doesn’t show up right away, it probably has a link in it and got caught in the spam filter. Be patient -I’ll release it soon enough.

Reviewing Products and Accepting Samples:I do not post about products, places, etc. in exchange for money. If I receive a free product to test or review, I will mention that in my post. I welcome review copies and products, but I reserve the right to not post about the product and to state my opinion, whether positive or negative, about the product. Acceptance of your product does not guarantee a review or a positive review of the product. Please feel free to contact me at nithyadas1(at)gmail(dot)com with such requests.

Nithiya! So I am up early looking up recipes for a spicy basil pesto for a last minute dinner party I have been guilted into attending. I want to infuse the pesto with grilled shrimp. I can’t believe I came across your blog- what are the odds! I only recently threw out my bright green Bala for President shirt that every friend of mine absolutely hated! I hope all is well with you and this was a great surprise and thanks for the recipe. I think that I will try it!

Nithya: For anyone wondering about this reference and why I didn’t delete this comment, it’s a reference to the Carolina Gamecocks. Hopefully hungry desi doesn’t start coming up in any XXX google searches.

I was wondering if you guys have a daily or weekly newsletter? I would like to sign up for it

Emma

ND: Thanks for the comments! You can sign up to receive updates (which are sent out when I update hungry desi with a new post) by email or by RSS from the home page of hungry desi (see the far left column).

This is my first visit to your site and the first comment I’ve ever posted on line! I’ve been enjoying looking through your recipes, especially the Indian ones. I like to try new, different international foods and have a cupboard full of “exotic” spices to prove it. I’d like to make the lemon spinach dal, but am not familiar with sambar powder. Can any other spice or spice mixture be substituted?

@Maria – Thanks for visiting hungry desi and for your comment. Sambar powder is like an “all spice” of South Indian cooking. It’s used in South Indian style kuras (stir fries) and kootus (stews). There are a lot of different recipes for making sambar powder, but it generally consists of ground coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, dried chilis, toor daal, channa daal, mustard seeds and dried curry leaves. Sounds like you have a fully stocked spice cabinet, so chances are likely that you have a lot of these spices already. Try making your own mix. If you decide to buy the powder, I like 777 or MTR brand.

I came across your site today as I was doing a search on Chayote Squash. I tried your Kura recipe and it came out well. I too grew up in the US, and married someone who also grew up here. My family is from the South and my husband’s side is from Punjab. I am always looking for quick and easy indian recipes to fit intoy our hectic lifestyle. My mom tended to overcomplicate things so I got intimidated by indian cooking, but I really enjoyed looking through your site and how you write. Would you mind sharing what type of skillet you use. Like for potatoes, I tend to overcook the potatoes, by the time they are cooked, they get burned on the outside. Also, I get used to the pressure cooker. Stil trying to figure out how much water to put into pressure cooking dals, etc.
Thanks again for your great blog. I am looking forward to trying your tapioca payasam, as I also do not make indian sweets and am eager to try something simple out, and this one seems simple enough 🙂

@Vina -thanks for visiting and the feedback. I’m also from the South, and my husband is Punjabi. I use a nonstick, anodized skillet like the one shown here. When you are frying potatoes, try cooking them on a lower heat and stirring them frequently. My dad makes crunchy potatoes – soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside – and they are a labor of love requiring lots of attention.

I have always wondered how people remain vegetarian living abroad specially the west. It should be difficult or may be I feel that way because I’m not a veg?
Besides I have a great appreciation for vegetarians and have lately (about 2 yrs) making a lot more vegetarian food. Checking out a lot of your recipes.

PS. You both look great together. And would you might if I said you husband is cute 😀

Nithya,
I love your blog! I use it frequently to plan my weekly dinners!
Thanks for all the great tips and suggestions – you are truly a talented (and funny) writer!
Have you considered writing a cookbook?
Your picture is just beautiful as is the new website design 🙂
Keep the recipes coming!

This is my second visit to ur blog and really liked the simplicity in ur blog. last time i visited ur blog, it was so inspiring. from over an year, i wanted to start my blog but it didnt happened. i was probably confused about where and how of blogging! your blog inspired me to take a next step towards blogging. thanks!. will definitely visit again. keep cooking! c ya!

From one hungry desi to another… 🙂 My parents were staying with us in Atlanta until last weekend. How I miss the coconut curries, quick ‘n’ easy vegetable stir-fry dishes, the jaggery-rice paayasam, the scent of ghee and coconut oil wafting through my home… and their presence! Well, c’est la vie!

I’m a european expat living in Delhi since 4 years and just stumbled over your blog while looking for a recipe that has dalia in it (until now I used it to make a kind of sweetened breakfast porridge, same as one would use steel cut oats). Will try your recipe tomorrow as well as some other very interesting and blessedly low fat options I found here! Great blog!

Nice blog! I’ll have to bookmark this one. I’m a white Texan but Desi type cooking is my favorite kind, will check for South Asian influenced recipes and otherwise. Though all you food bloggers kind of blow my mind as I at the moment I have trouble just getting myself in the kitchen, let alone blogging about it. Also I agree that is a cute picture, and I’m not related to you lol. 🙂

This is the first time I have commented on a recipe. I simply had to. The french green bean recipe turned out awesome. Thank you! I added a bit of finely chopped garlic, onion, and g.chilli after the mustard seeds and before the green beans.

My name is Shirley , I want to share few things about your website Hungrydesi.com that I observed while visiting it.

I found your website listed in the Google sponsored listings, which cost you money for each click. However, sometimes these sponsored listings also known as PPC (pay per click) ads can create bidding wars. You pay every time somebody clicks on your ad. That can hurt your wallet! Why not try SEO techniques to optimize your website and increase traffic?

With Pay-per-click ads, you may increase traffic to your site and sell products but it costs you hard earned money for each visitor. Even worse, if you stop paying then the results will vanish suddenly. However, using proper SEO techniques, results wonâ€™t diminish even if you stop paying.

Did you know that 85% of users prefer to click on natural search results over the sponsored/PPC ads?

By investing in SEO for a few months you will see a drastic change in your website growth, traffic and ultimately sale! We will show you improvements on your keyword ranking, link popularity and organic traffic within a given time frame.

Are you aware of your business competitors? Are you satisfied with your current website search results ranking compared to your competitors? Satisfaction is possible utilizing proper SEO optimization.

SEO provides lasting benefits.
SEO forces website improvements.
SEO can capitalize on social media.
Definite Increase in Traffic.
Better ROI (Return on Investment) Than Normal Ads.
With 750 Million Websites on the internet, SEO makes you stand out.
80% of clicks are on the first search result.

Do let me know if you are interested and I would be happy to share our Methodologies and Prices.

MONTH END OFFER:

Flat 20% off on all our SEO packages.

We are confident that we can be of use to your company.

If you would like to explore more, kindly write me back with any queries you have so we can take this further.

Kind Regards,

Shirley Mitchell

Internet Marketer.

Note: This is an advertisement and a promotional mail strictly on the guidelines of CAN-SPAM act 2003. We have clearly mentioned the source mail id of this mail, also clearly mentioned the subject line and they are in no way misleading in any form. We have found your email address through our own efforts on the web search and not through any illegal way. If you find this email unsolicited, please reply with â€œREMOVEâ€ in the subject line and we will take care that you donâ€™t receive any further promotional mail.

Hello,

My name is Shirley , I want to share few things about your website ( ) that I observed while visiting it.

I found your website listed in the Google sponsored listings, which cost you money for each click. However, sometimes these sponsored listings also known as PPC (pay per click) ads can create bidding wars. You pay every time somebody clicks on your ad. That can hurt your wallet! Why not try SEO techniques to optimize your website and increase traffic?

With Pay-per-click ads, you may increase traffic to your site and sell products but it costs you hard earned money for each visitor. Even worse, if you stop paying then the results will vanish suddenly. However, using proper SEO techniques, results wonâ€™t diminish even if you stop paying.

Did you know that 85% of users prefer to click on natural search results over the sponsored/PPC ads?

By investing in SEO for a few months you will see a drastic change in your website growth, traffic and ultimately sale! We will show you improvements on your keyword ranking, link popularity and organic traffic within a given time frame.

Are you aware of your business competitors? Are you satisfied with your current website search results ranking compared to your competitors? Satisfaction is possible utilizing proper SEO optimization.

SEO provides lasting benefits.
SEO forces website improvements.
SEO can capitalize on social media.
Definite Increase in Traffic.
Better ROI (Return on Investment) Than Normal Ads.
With 750 Million Websites on the internet, SEO makes you stand out.
80% of clicks are on the first search result.

Do let me know if you are interested and I would be happy to share our Methodologies and Prices.

MONTH END OFFER:

Flat 20% off on all our SEO packages.

We are confident that we can be of use to your company.

If you would like to explore more, kindly write me back with any queries you have so we can take this further.

Kind Regards,

Shirley Mitchell

Internet Marketer.

Note: This is an advertisement and a promotional mail strictly on the guidelines of CAN-SPAM act 2003. We have clearly mentioned the source mail id of this mail, also clearly mentioned the subject line and they are in no way misleading in any form. We have found your email address through our own efforts on the web search and not through any illegal way. If you find this email unsolicited, please reply with â€œREMOVEâ€ in the subject line and we will take care that you donâ€™t receive any further promotional mail.

s the biggest advantage that you are to get if you decide to book their escort services.
Over the past several years there has been a push for acceptance and the rights of
the transwomen. It is important that you work with
a photographer who knows what to do – but more importantly
just have fun doing it.

Hii Nithya,
I have developed the habit of reading food blogs very recently. Though I am an amateur in cooking skills, I find it refreshing to read through the blogs and keep on experimenting with the recipes. I have been following your blog and it has been an amazing experience. Since I am pursuing my Ph.D in the culinary culture, reading blogs has been one of the most lively experiences for me and cooking has become my passion. Thanks for this wonderful website. I would like to connect with you on facebook messenger or through any other ways.
Thanks and regards,
Sinorita

Hello Nithya,
I have been following your blog since a month and I found some really delicious recipes which look yummy. I am Sinorita and I am doing a research on the culinary culture of the Indian Diaspora and one of my chapters is on the survey work that I am conducting on Indian American food bloggers across the world. While I was looking across various blogs, I came across your blog and liked it a lot and thought of approaching you to seek your help on the same. So, if you could spare some time for me and answer me back, I can forward you the synopsis of my research work.
Thanks and regards,
Sinorita